boot Under the Tree

Dec 21, 2023

Prior to the plague, we had the extraordinary pleasure of occasionally attending the boot show in Dusseldorf. No, that’s not footwear exhibition – “boot” means boat, of course – but rather the largest boat show in Europe, possibly in the world. The sheer size of the show is almost overwhelming with16 huge halls, several filled with every size of power and sail boats and the rest filled with gear, charter destinations, marine art, water toys, scuba etc etc and more etc, a lot of which doesn’t always make it to our shores.

It’s a fine way to get away from the Canadian winter and fuel boating fever. The boot show is all indoors so, after visiting TIBS it’s an opportunity to continue the off-season illusion and spend another week climbing on boats and talking about summer. This year, now that travel is happening once more, the pilgrimage is on. 

My thought is this – yes, there are great boat shows in Canada but there’s a lot of winter to eat up. Just to give you an idea. boot Düsseldorf 2024 will occupy 220,000 square meters of exhibit space with More than 1,500 exhibitors from 65 countries and over 1000 boats including many super yachts. An example, Bavaria, a brand that is re-vitalizing after a tough couple of years will have 11 boats over 30 feet – six power and five sail in their booth and that’s just one manufacturer, albeit a big one.  It’s a visit to Disneyland for a person who loves boating.

Let’s look on the positive side – the Canadian winter is so long you can dance around the tree with the family then there’s lots of time left to really pack it with boating activities: charters down south, winter navigation courses with CPS, get-togethers with boating friends to complain about the weather and look forward to launch.  It’s the Canadian way.

Let’s start with the December part. Now’s the time to spend quality time hanging out with family and friends, over-indulging and sharing. January to March means boat shows, perhaps some travel. Then it’s on toward spring and boat immersion!  Lots to look forward to.

Happy Holidays from the OnBoard crew. Thank you for reading our digest all year; we look forward to another great one in ’24.

John Morris, Online Editor

Related Articles

Chris Craft Rendezvous

Canadian Chris-Craft Rendezvous 2013

At the height of our fantastic summer, the Canadian Chris-Craft Rendezvous drew 18 vintage boats, including two from our neighbours to the south, to Telegraph Harbour Marina July 19-21.

This year’s much-anticipated Saturday afternoon event was a blindfolded dinghy race, with two crewmembers in rowing dinghies, an oarsperson and a navigator. Each boat was equipped with a water super-soaker for navigators and a paper bag (size large) for the oarsman.  The course was relayed to navigators with a final twist: a

Video Gallery

Jeanneau Yachts 55

Throw away the box, this is some fresh thinking

Seemingly part sailboat and part spaceship, the new Jeanneau Yachts 55 just busted through the boundaries of traditional yacht design. I couldn’t take my eyes off the bubble hardtop that met me at the dock and I stepped aboard with trepidation. A few hours later, I was planning how to spend my not-yet-won lottery winnings.

Read More

Destinations

Paving the Way to Cleaner Boating – How a Commitment to Reducing our Environmental Impact is Inspiring Cleaner Boating in Ontario

By Dave Rozycki

Over the past seven decades, Ontario’s marina industry has developed alongside some of Canada’s largest freshwater lakes. Boaters have been able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and create lasting memories on the water, with certain marinas dating back to the 1960s. As we reflect on this rich history, we can begin to see trends in how our footprint may have had an effect on the environment, in not-so-positive ways. However, by embracing innovative solutions and adopting sustainable practices, both marinas and boaters hold the key to preserving and enhancing the quality of our lakes and marine life for generations to come.

Read More

Lifestyle